MaxLinear : A Leader in RF Analog, Standing Out in the Global Communications and Data Infrastructure Market

 

Maxlinear

[Posting: 2025.08.17]

MaxLinear is a fabless company that stands out in the field of RF analog and mixed-signal semiconductors. In particular, it has been expanding its product lineup around broadband, connectivity, high-speed interconnects, and power management solutions, playing an important role in the global communications and data infrastructure market. A key strength is its collaboration with multiple foundries, enabling the use of a wide range of technology nodes from 250nm down to 3nm. This structure allows the company to meet diverse demands, from low-power analog devices to advanced data center SoCs. Although the recent decline in revenue and shift to operating losses pose challenges, MaxLinear is expanding its application areas to Wi-Fi 7, 5G, cloud data centers, and automotive electronics, offering opportunities for a rebound. Ultimately, the company’s competitiveness depends on its expertise in RF and mixed-signal design, diversification of foundry partnerships, and strategies for expanding into new application markets. With the expected growth in demand for communications and AI infrastructure, MaxLinear is projected to have strong potential for recovery.

MaxLinear: History, Revenue, Products, Foundry Partners, and Technology Nodes

Meta Description
Discover MaxLinear’s history, five-year financial performance, product portfolio, applications, semiconductor foundry partners, and technology nodes. Learn about its strengths in RF and mixed-signal semiconductors, employee compensation, and future growth prospects in Wi-Fi 7, 5G, and data centers.

Overview of MaxLinear

  • Company Name: MaxLinear, Inc.

  • Founded: 2003

  • Headquarters: Carlsbad, California, USA

  • Stock Listing: NASDAQ (Ticker: MXL)

  • Founders: Kishore Seendripu, Curtis Ling

  • Industry Focus: RF analog and mixed-signal semiconductors (Fabless)

MaxLinear has established itself as a leading fabless semiconductor company specializing in broadband, connectivity, power management, and high-speed interconnect solutions.

MaxLinear History

  • 2009: Expanded mobile DTV RF receiver supply in Japan

  • 2010: Listed on NASDAQ, raised ~$92M in IPO

  • 2015: Acquired Entropic Communications

  • 2016: Acquired Broadcom’s wireless backhaul business unit

  • 2017: Acquired Marvell’s G.hn business and Exar Corporation ($660M)

  • 2020: Acquired Intel’s Home Gateway Platform and NanoSemi

  • 2022–2023: Attempted acquisition of Silicon Motion, later canceled due to regulatory hurdles

Five-Year Financial Performance (2019–2024)

YearRevenue (USD)Operating Income (USD)
2020$478.6M$67.5M
2021$892.4M$185.3M
2022$1.12B$16M
2023$693.3M–$16M (loss)
2024$360.5M–$168.7M (loss)

👉 Analysis: Revenue surged between 2020 and 2022, more than doubling in two years, but global economic slowdown and reduced customer investment led to steep declines and operating losses from 2023 onward.

Product Portfolio

  • Broadband Mixed-Signal ICs: RF receivers, SoCs

  • Connectivity ICs: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, DOCSIS modem chipsets

  • High-Speed Interconnects: SerDes, PCIe, OTN solutions

  • Power Management & Analog Semiconductors

Applications

  • Mobile devices and automotive video receivers

  • Set-top boxes and cable modems (DOCSIS 3.0/3.1)

  • Data centers and cloud servers

  • 5G base stations

  • Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 routers and broadband gateways

Representative Products & Technologies

  • RF SoC-based DTV tuners

  • DOCSIS 3.0/3.1 cable modem chipsets

  • Broadband gateway SoCs

  • CMOS-based analog and mixed-signal designs

MaxLinear Foundry Partners

As a fabless company, MaxLinear relies on global foundries for semiconductor manufacturing:

FoundryLocationNotes
TSMCTaiwanAdvanced nodes, primary wafer supplier
UMCTaiwan/SingaporeRF & mixed-signal focus
GlobalFoundriesSingapore, othersFD-SOI, specialty processes
SMICChina28nm nodes, regulatory risks
SilterraMalaysiaDTV tuner production
Tower-JazzUSA (California)Specialty processes
WIN SemiTaiwanRF GaAs-based processes

Technology Nodes in Use

MaxLinear leverages a wide range of semiconductor process technologies:

  • 0.25 µm (250 nm): High-power analog RF circuits

  • 65–40 nm: Broadband and cable modem SoCs

  • 28 nm: High-speed interconnects, low-power design

  • 16–12 nm: High-density DSPs and networking chipsets

  • 7–5 nm: Advanced Wi-Fi and data center applications

  • 3 nm (as of 2024): Early adoption for next-generation high-performance products

👉 Conclusion: MaxLinear balances mature and advanced nodes, enabling diverse products from analog RF to high-performance SoCs.

Employees & Compensation

  • Employees: ~1,294 (2024)

  • Median Compensation: ~$130,242

  • CEO Pay: ~$26.4M (≈202x employee median)

Conclusion & Outlook

MaxLinear remains a strong player in the RF and mixed-signal semiconductor sector. Its strength lies in:

  • Expertise in RF and mixed-signal design

  • Diversified foundry partnerships

  • Broad adoption of technology nodes (250 nm to 3 nm)

While recent years have seen revenue declines and operating losses, future growth opportunities exist in Wi-Fi 7, 5G, cloud data centers, and automotive electronics. With rising demand for communications and AI infrastructure, MaxLinear is well-positioned for long-term recovery and expansion.

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